Anyone want to help with a MB diesel re-powering project?
 

I am planning on filming a re-powering project sometime this year and would like some ideas from you all.

I will be using a 4 or 5 cylinder MB diesel (probably a 617) and its automatic tranny. What type of car/truck would be neat with that combo??

Since I am in Atlanta I would love to have some forum members who are close by participate also for fun and learning.

Start posting some ideas please.:D

put it in like an older ranger or an s-10.. then sell it to me or trade me

The Don is on to it
 

How about one of the mid-sized Dodge dakota pickups? Good match in size vs. hp.

On the SUV side, an Isuzu trooper is a pretty simple beast. I had an 86 (gas) for about 10 years. It had a 100 hp 2.3L gas engine and a 5 speed. The 617 would match that easily.

It is hard to find any recent RWD cars that I can think of that would be a good fit. Either too large and heavy ( LTD / Caprice) or too small to fit the big/heavy engine. Maybe an old El Camino or Ranchero might fit the mold? Possibly a Nova - might make a good commuter car.

Other thoughts?

Chuck

what about building a frame around the engine and getting a rear end and making a dune buggy.. that sounds more fun

A 617 Turbo manual tranny dune buggy....WOW would that be a ride! :D :D :eek: :eek: Talk about HP to weight ratios! :eek:

cant be that hard really.... or are you being saracastic.. i just had a brain explosion of ideas..


ok ok .. i think i can make it work.. i have CAD skillz.. tomorrow ill play with it.. gimme dimmensions and stuff.. i can build the entire thing in CAD test it for weak points from that fatty of an engine and go from there

Oh I didn't mean it was hard, I just meant imagine how awesome it'd be to drive one! What a thrill!! :D :D :D

quick someone.. what is the height and width and length of am om617 with the transmission

I thought these engines weight around 500lbs???? If i were to make a buggie, i would use a front wheel drive gasser and transaxel.

Don, I am loving the S-10 Idea though.

OK, If you do the 617 pwrd dune buggy, I'll donate a Porsche 914 5spd trans so you can make it mid engine. :D

Random thoughts.
 

Jaguar XJ6
Porsche 928
Porsche 924
BMW 535is
BMW Glas 1304 2-Door Sedan
Classic BMW 2002
Buick OPEL GT

Honda GoldWing motorcycle


Katrina cars of all types.

I'll give a 2nd vote for a Trooper. The 2nd gens (92+) seem to have larger engine compartments. I've seen an LT1 in the bay of a 1st gen (88-91) and it did fit. I'd love to have a 617 powered Trooper in the fleet. Name the price :)

-Tad

I worry about size and weight of a 300D turbo engine in a S-10/Ranger. Maybe a full-size truck (or the Dakota as mentioned) might be better.

240D engine may be a better match for an S-10.

Ken300D

I think the Jag would be excellent. They can be had cheaply. Parts cars/donors are available. The diesel klatter would be an excellent surprise that folks wouldn't expect. And I imagine the frontend could handle the weight. Also an already rear wheel drive vehicle.
And a Jag has never had a finer motor in it than a 617.952!:D
It would also add a percieved elegance that you aren't gonna get from some econobox or buggy.
I wouldn't mind owning one of those at all. Always liked the look, hated the motor.
Why go through all this trouble for an S-10 or Dakota?

OK Jimmy has a point as well
 

There is a HUGE aftermarket for "lumping" american v8's into mid 80's jag sedans and xjs'. Both cars were made for 12 cylinder - heavy - tall - powerplants. The jag sedan would be a cool cruiser. Lots of info out there for merging electrical systems, speedometers, hvac....

Still, given the choice of a 617 diesel or a hot Chevy 383, 300+ hp (bored and stroked Chevy 350), the Chevy has a lot fun going for it.

And I'd be willing to come by and assist in any of the projects mentioned... I'm about 4 hours North of you.

Chuck

the 617
 

would be very heavy for a dune buggy, and why bother? light weight there is important and who cares if it uses alittle less fuel. you arent going to be driving it that much anyway.

the dakota would be a good match. not too heavy but heavy enough to take the weight.

and i read recently that the new jag will be offered with diesel power, cant remember if euro only or us too.

tom w

928
 

I like the Porsche idea. The 617 would undoubtedly be too tall, but putting an efficient engine in a car that aerodynamic would make for some pretty impressive fuel-economy numbers.

Jay.

dodge dakota!!!

Something like a Lotus SuperSeven ore a classic t-bucket would be SWEET!

I'd like to see that combo installed in a DJ5 mail Jeep! :D

Checker cab. I've kicked around the idea of putting a 6.2 diesel in one for economy and reliability. The only downside would be having to fight off all of the chicks attracted to the pure sex of a Checker.

mercedesrover (screen name) has a sweet 88 inch landrover with a 5 cylinder in it....since that's been done...how about a convertable of some sort? (even thought the land rover is a convertable as well in some ways)

here is this project
 

we have posted this thought before...........do an sl and offer it to us for sale.

Do a trike !

I thought about a 4x4 Jeep Cherokee. The engine bay already is sized for an inline 6 so the 617 would drop right in. The vehicle is not very heavy and lots of part available.

in the 80's jeep had some diesel cherokees i almost bought one but the parts for it are like in france..

i like the idea of the s-10 or maybe an f150

i realized the dune buggy idea would flop. but it would be neat. maybe a mud bogging truck.. ive seen some custom jobs down here and they look pretty decent

1947 Dodge Power Wagon WDX.
;)

Or a 62 Chevy belair....

their is a 50's era caddy 4 door for sale by me.. i think an om617 would fit

Dimensions
 

With the trans., its about 5 feet long and about 2 feet wide.

Once I find my measuring device, I can give you better figures. Or someone else can beat me to it.

Late 60s early 70s Toyota Landcruiser, or same era Jeepster. I don't know about the power to weight ratio, but the sheer quirkyness factor of a 617.95 Jeepster would make it worthwhile! "Merpster"? "Jecedes"?

Scot

If only I was slightly more local, I would certainly be in to give an extra set of hands.

same here.. unless i have my license by then and have a place to crash other than my backseat

Me and a friend put 3.0 turbo and trans in a 95 Jeep YJ. We used a 205
T-case and dana 60's from a 72 ford tow truck. With the 16-1 Granny low
gear it could pull a house off it's foudation. We also put a snorkel on the
engine and the exaust so he could put it through 6-8 foot of water.
I will try and find some pics of the install. Really cool rig. Lots of fab work.

89 190E " Race car project"
81 300SD 137, Miles

woo hoo. 78 - 79hp! I'm so excited I can barely contain myself...:1blank: :1blank: :1blank:

thats all these om617's have.. i thought the turbo diesels had like 125 hp? id like to do a dyno run one day for the fun of it

Swap candidates
 

Borgward Isabella
Toyota Toyopet
240D... errr, wait a sec...

I've looked into the 617 into 1991 Isuzu Trooper, as I own one of each, bits of both, etc... Only thing I see as an issue is that I'd like to keep the 5 speed & 4wd in the Isuzu - distance from firewall to radiator face (fan side) of first-gen Trooper is 27.5"-28" -

Stock 1991 Isuzu has a married transmission/transfer case - could go with 240D 4 speed manual trans & divorced t-case (like an NP205/218/etc) with custom driveshafts. I haven't pulled together hard numbers for the swap, but fitting anything in is possible - Keep the BFH handy in the top drawer of the toolbox!

Bryan in NC

i want a half track ... like the ww2 kind.. drool

On a good day, 90hp & +125ft/lbs of torque.

For TheDon
 

diesel; umm, get out of the way.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=89415

Enjoy. :D :D

I thought about a diesel XJ6 all day today! I even saw 2 jags in folks driveways today. Candidates would be easy to find for you. I SO wish I had the fab. skills for this project, or lived closer to you.
You have other good suggestions, but I again cast a very spirited XJ6 vote!!

How about I give you my `93 Grand Cherokee, you can keep the V8, and I'll take it back when you are finished with the conversion. :D

Another interesting swap...
 

It finally gets to an International Travelall...

http://www.binderbulletin.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4373&highlight=mercedes

This thread is actually how I arrived at buying a mercedes diesel car, was going to do the conversion in a scout, couldn't find anyone to touch the driveshaft, sold the scout, and bought the 240d. Would still consider doing it. I miss the scout. (but not the exponential rust growth!)

yeah
 

i have a 66 scout that i plow with. my parking lot and my driveways. i often think about putting a 240 motor in it. i have the four cyl. scout engine. it runs pretty well now after spending a considerable sum on deferred maintenance... rebuiding carb, replacing bent pushrods, etc.

i especially wish for the diesel when i am plowing the sidewalk next to my building and the side discharge exhause billows back into the breezy cab and floor. unburned hydrocarbons and oil smoke are truly hard to imagine in this day of computer controlled gas engines that put out so little carbon monoxide that you cant even kill yourself with them anymore int he garage if they are in proper tune.

oh well, when i drive it maybe 200 miles a year it is hard to justify any modifications at all!

tom w

How do you guys do these projects? Here in California you could never get one of these projects to pass a smog test consequently, you'd never get it licensed. Are the laws different in other states?

Very different from state to state and even shop to shop. When I got my "emissions" test done, they didn't even pop the hood. He just backed it onto the rollers and floored it to 75mph. Pass. :D

What's a smog test? :confused:

How about this.
1. An old Jag XJ-6 coupe. Very cool car and even more rare with a 617.
2. Get a 32 Ford hot rod kit, and drop in the 617.
Both would provide an unique ride and a great story.

it all reminded me
 

of when i was in morrocco in 1973. i was in one of the citites and spotted a 55 chrysler taxi cab. it was pretty cherry looking so i went over for a closer look and discovered it was running. it had a little four cylinder diesel in it! couldnt have been very fast but it sure must have used a lot less fuel than that 331 hemi it came with.

tom w

I have a S-10 4x4 and thought about the 5cyl swap for when the 4.3 finally blows. I measured the 617 in my 300SD (no I wouldn't dare steal the motor out of it! :rolleyes: ) and found it a bit too long for the S-10. I guess it could be made to work but only with a lot of major firewall mods and setting the tranny and tcase back in the frame. Somebody once told me if you have a good enough cutting torch, you can put anything into anything. :D